Chesapeake Ranch Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Lusby, Maryland 20657
Sunday, November 20, 2011 18:15 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot stated that, during the night flight, he made an initial pass to locate the airfield and to turn on the runway lights via the radio. He rejected the first approach when he lost sight of the landing area. He visually reacquired the field and began his second approach. During the second approach, he saw the runway lights from the approach end to the departure end and the windsock to the left of the runway. He recalled that he felt that the airplane was slightly low. He stated that, while he was on what he believed was short final, trees appeared in front of the windscreen, and trees limbs and branches began to hit the airplane. The airplane began to severely vibrate and shimmy, so the pilot reduced power and pushed the yoke forward to force the airplane onto the ground. The airplane collided with the ground, and the airframe was substantially damaged.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot did not maintain clearance from trees during a night approach.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/20/2011
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1815
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City Lusby
Event State MARYLAND
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 20657
Event Date Year 2011
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 382124N
Event Location Longitude 0762411W
Event Location Airport Chesapeake Ranch Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID MD50
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 116
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1752 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 180
Weather Observation Facility ID NHK
Elevation of weather observation facility 39
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 3
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 25000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 14
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 11
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 100
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.19
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 29439
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 28 2011 1:07PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9569Q
NTSB Number ERA12CA080
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BEECH
Aircraft Model V35
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number D-8204
Certified Max Gross Weight 3400
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats 2
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats 4
Total number of seats on the aircraft 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Sep 1 2011 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 4277
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type C91
Aircraft Owner Name HEFRON WILLIAM K
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City GRANITEVILLE
Aircraft Owner State SC
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 29829-3822
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name HEFRON WILLIAM K
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City GRANITEVILLE
Operator State SC
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 29829-3822
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code IGQ
Departure City Lansing
Departure State IL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1410
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code MD50
Destination City Lusby
Destination State MD
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 28 2011 1:07PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 13
Runway Length 2500
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --